Life-preserver.



B. FRANKLIN.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 23, 1915.

1,174,557. n Patented um. 7,1916.

THE CULUMBIA FLANOGRAPH C0., WASHING-rom D. C.

.g TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOy AMERICAN LIFE BUOY COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. Y

LIFE-PRESERVEB..

Application filed July 23, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates in general to life preservers and more particularly to an inflatable device adapted to support the body of a wearer in water in such a manner as to insure against drowning.

Inflatable devices have heretofore been suggested for use as life preservers but have been subject to numerous disadvantages which have prevented accidental use thereof. Among the disadvantages referred to is the failure of prior devices to provide for automatic distribution of the gas to properly apply the buoyant force above the center of gravity of the body of the wearer so that the head is always maintained above the water. f

It is the object of my invention to provide an inflatable life preserver of such form as to insure that the buoyant force is always so applied that the head of the wearer will remain above water without the necessity of relying on weights or similar expedients to maintain the body in upright position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an inflatable life preserver which, when only partially inflated, will automatically distribute the gas within the chamber so that the buoyantV force will be applied at the desired points without manipulation, whereby the greatest freedom of movement is enjoyedby the wearer.

Further objects and advantages of my ,invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved life preserver, disclosing the position thereof as applied to the body of the wearer; Fig. '2 is a similar view in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a vvertical section through the front portion of the device; Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the gores forming the outer wall of the gas chamber, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the mouth-piece, illustrating the arrangement of Y the check valve.

Referring to the drawing, the device com- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

serial No. 41,442.

prises inner and outer walls 1 and 2, respectively, preferably formed of a fabric such as Belgian drill coated on one side with rubber to render the fabric thoroughly water and a1r-proof. The rubber may be omitted, 1f desired, but experience has demonstrated that a more dura-ble structure results from the use thereof. The inner wall 1 is .substantially cylindrical in form but in use, when the device is fully inflated, it conforms more or less to the body of the wearer as indica-ted in Figs. 1 and 2.

The outer wall 2 comprises a plurality of gores 3, the form of which is clearly indicated in Fig. 4, andfrom an inspection of the drawing it will'be apparent that the width of the gores `3 is at a maximum adjacent the top thereof, the gores tapering abruptly to the top and gradually toward the bottom. The gores 3 are secured together by stitching to form the outer wall 2, being substantially of a pear shape, and a plurality of strips 4 are vulcanized tok the inner side of the outer wall 2 at the junctions of the gores. The strips 4 serve not only to strengthen the structure but act as stiffening elements tending normally to expand the outer wall, whereby the gas chamber will normally contain a certain amount of air as will be presently explained.

The inner wall 1 extends downwardly to form a seat portion 5 adapted to pass between the legs of the wearer, thus forming a convenient support when inthe water. A pair of straps 6 having adjustable buckles 7 ,securedl thereon are fastened at the rear of the device to the band 8 and are adapted to engage the snap hooks 9 secured to the band 8' at the front of the device. serve to prevent movement of the life preserver when the wearer enters the water .head first as in diving. Secured 1n any suitable manner to the clamped and an air and water-tight joint is assured. A normally straight flexible tube 13 is secured to the tube 10 and extends upwardly to a point above the band 8 and within easy reach of the mouth of the wearer, and is provided at its upper extremity with The straps 6 mouth-piece 111 within which a suitable flap valve 15 is disposed, whereby air may be blown into the chamber by the wearer but is prevented from egress therefrom. A. strap 13', secured to the band 8, retains the tube 13 in position for easy access to the mouthpiece 14. Near the bottom of the front gore 3 an outlet tube 16 is disposed, being secured to the fabric in a manner similar to that described in connection with the inlet tube 10. A cap 17 is threadedly secured to the outlet tube 16 and may be removed when desirable to allow air to be forced from the chamber.

The manner in which my invention is used should be apparent without further description of the structure thereof. By removing the cap 17 all of the air may be expelled from the chamber and the device may be folded and packed in a small space. When the device is needed it may be shaken out and applied to the body of the wearer in the manner disclosed in the drawing, it being obvious, of course, that the device may be applied over the clothing of the wearer if desirable. In shaking out the life preserver after it has been folded the stiffening strips 4 tend to bulge the outer wall 2 and in so doing a certain amount of airis drawn through the valve 15 and this air is sufficient alone to fioat the body of the wearer. While the device is disclosed in the drawing in its fully inflated condition it is to be `understood that this is merely by way of showing the structure and that normally in use only a small quantity of air is necessary, the full capacity of the device being sufficient to float several persons. lVith the chamber only partially inflated, owing to the form thereof, the air will rise to the upper portion and the buoyant force will be applied at a. point well above the waist ofthe wearer, so that the head is maintained above water without the necessity of relying on weights or other means to hold the body in upright position. Furthermore, the wearer can assume any position he may desire in the water, the air shifting constantly in the chamber being always disposed at the highest point therein. If the wearer rests face downward in the water, as in swimming, the air will be concentrated in the portion of the chamber over his back, whereas if he is floating face upwardly the air will assume the opposite position in the chamber.

Trials have demonstrated that a person wearing one of these life preservers may dive into the water and that in every instance he will be drawn upwardly without,

effort and his head will first Vappear above the surface. Should the wearer be seized with cramp or should other danger be apparent he need only blow through the mouthpiece 11i-'to quickly infiate the device to its fullest extent when it will support him indefinitely -and will also serve to support several other persons, depending on the size of the device. It will be apparent, therefore, that I have succeeded in perfecting an infiatable life preserver which presents numerous novel features both in structure and function over such devices as have heretofore been suggested for the purpose and it will be further obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and `arfangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An'inflatable life preserver comprising an inner wall substantially cylindrical in shape to conform generally to the body of the wearer, and an outer wall consisting of a plurality of gores secured together, each of said gores being of maximum width near the top thereof and tapering gradually toward the bottom, the inner and outer walls being fastened together at top yand bottom to form a continuous gas chamber surrounding the wearer, which chamber when infiated is of greater cross-sectional area above than below the horizontal middle of the device and seat-forming means adapted to encircle the legs of the wearer.

2. An inflatable life preserver, comprising an inner wall, substantially cylindrical in shape, an outer wall consisting of a plurality of gores secured together at their adjacent edges, each of said gores being of maximum width near the top thereof and tapering abruptly to said top and gradually toward the bottom, said inner and outer walls being fastened together at top and bottom and forming` a single gas chamber, said inner wall extending downwardly to form a seat portion adapted to encircle the legs of the wearer.

3. An inflatable life preserver comprising inner and outer walls forming a gas chamber, said outer wall consisting of a plurality of gores secured together, each of said gores being of maximum width near the top thereof and tapering gradually toward the bottom, and stiffening strips secured to the inner side of said outer wall at the junctions of said gores.

4. An inflatable life preserver comprising inner and outer walls forming a gas chamber, said outer wall consisting of a plurality of goresy secured together, each of said gores being of maximum width near the top thereof and tapering abruptly to said top and gradually to the bottom, said inner wall extending downwardly to form a seat portion adapted to encircle the legs of the wearer,

vand adjustable shoulder straps secured to the upper portion of said life preserver.

5. An inflatable life preserver comprising inner and outer walls forming a gas chamber, said outer Wall consisting of a plurality of gores secured together, each of said gores being of maximum Width adjacent the top thereof and tapering abruptly to said top and gradually toward the bottom, stiifening strips secured to the inner side of said outer Wall at the junctions of said gores, and means whereby said chamber may be lled with gas.

whereby said chamber may be filled With 7. An inflatable life preservar comprising f inner and outer Walls forming a gas chamber, said outer Wall consisting of a plurality of gores secured together, each of said gores being of maximum Width adjacent the top thereof and tapering abruptly to Said top and gradually toward the bottom, stiiening strips secured to the inner side of said outer Wall at the junctions of said gores, and means whereby said chamber may be lled with gas comprising a normally straight inlet tube, and means to retain said tube in substantially upright position.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Witnesses:

ERNEST H. MERCHANT, W. T. WESTERBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

